A Tongan MP says foreign suppliers need to step in and help to address the major fuel shortage in Vava'u.

RNZ reports the northern island group has not had an official fuel delivery for over a month since suppliers sold their barge, leading to long periods of time where there is none available for purchase.

'Akosita Lavulavu collaborated with a private company and helped pay to get fifty 200 litre drums of petrol to Vava'u over the weekend but she expects that to run out in the next 24 hours.

"The people here are very grateful that we were able to ship on a few litres of petrol for them to be able to get around, go to church, school, get all those daily things they need to do and everything. But I am not sure if this will be able to carry us through to when the next shipment of fuel comes."

Ms Lavulavu said there has been no information from fuel suppliers about when their deliveries will resume to Vava'u and another private shipment will hopefully reach the island by the weekend.